Safety lock and release handle

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to safety lock and release handles for use in foldable containers. The handles are rotatable to unlock container panels from each other for folding. The handles comprise safety lock assemblies to prevent inadvertent rotation and unlocking of the container panels. The present invention also relates to foldable storage container devices that incorporate the safety lock and release handles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Empty storage containers take up excess space. Foldable storage containers can be collapsed for more efficient use of space when not in use. However, foldable storage containers are faced with a difficult design choice. If the foldable elements are too weak, the storage container may collapse upon itself under stress, making them unreliable to use. If the foldable elements are too strong or complicated, then folding and unfolding the storage container becomes burdensome and discourages users from utilizing the folding function.

There is a need in the art for improved foldable storage containers with durable and intuitive locks. The present invention meets this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a safety lock and release handle device comprising: a rotatable grip connected to at least one elongate and rod-like cam, wherein rotation of the grip retracts the at least one cam towards the grip; and a safety lock assembly housed within the grip, the safety lock assembly comprising a button connected to at least one elongate pin having a length that extends outside of the grip, wherein pressing the button retracts the length of the at least one pin into the grip; wherein the length of the at least one pin extending outside of the grip locks rotation of the grip, and retracting the length of the at least one pin into the grip unlocks rotation of the grip.

In one embodiment, the safety lock assembly comprises a spring connected to the button and the at least one pin. In one embodiment, the connection between the button and the at least one pin is formed by an angled surface on the interior of the button and an angled surface on the at least one pin, wherein each of the angled surfaces are parallel to each other. In one embodiment, the device is integrated into a panel of a foldable container. In one embodiment, the at least one cam extends through the panel of the foldable container and into an adjacent panel of the foldable container, such that retraction of the at least one cam towards the grip removes the at least one cam from the adjacent panel.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a foldable storage container device comprising: a planar bottom panel having a substantially rectangular shape with four edges; two planar side panels hingedly connected to the bottom panel at a first opposing pair of edges; and two planar end panels hingedly connected to the bottom panel at a second opposing pair of edges; wherein the side panels and end panels are foldable onto the bottom panel in a folded configuration, the side panels and end panels are lockable to each other in an upright unfolded configuration, and each end panel comprises a handle that is rotatable to unlock the end panels from the side panels.

In one embodiment, the the device is stackable in the unfolded configuration and in the folded configuration. In one embodiment, the end panels comprise retractable cams connected to the handles, the cams extending into the side panels to lock the side panels and the end panels to each other. In one embodiment, rotation of the handles retracts the cams from the side panels to unlock the end panels from the side panels. In one embodiment, the the cams comprise an angled surface, such that rotation of the handles rotates the cams to slidably engage the angled surface to a post positioned within the end panels to retract the cams in a lateral direction away from the side panels.

In one embodiment, rotation of the handles is locked by retractable pins extending from the handles into the end panels. In one embodiment, the handles comprise push buttons that retract the pins to permit rotation of the handles. In one embodiment, the pins comprise an angled surface and the buttons comprise an angled surface in alignment with the angled surface of the pins, such that pushing the buttons slidably engages the angled surface of the buttons to the angled surface of the pins to retract the pins in a lateral direction away from the end panels.

In one embodiment, the bottom panel, the side panels, the end panels, and combinations thereof comprise one or more rigid corrugations. In one embodiment, the bottom panel, the side panels, the end panels, and combinations thereof comprise one or more perforations, voids, or mesh patterns. In one embodiment, the edges shared between the bottom panel and the side panels have a length that is longer, shorter, or the same as a length of the edges shared between the bottom panel and the end panels. In one embodiment, the side panels and the end panels each have a height that is equal to half of or less than half of a length of the edges shared between the bottom panel and the side panels, a length of the edges shared between the bottom panel and the end panels, or both.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a foldable storage container device comprising: a planar bottom panel having a first pair of opposing edges hingedly connected to two planar side panels and a second pair of opposing edges hingedly connected to two planar end panels, wherein the end panels are lockable to the side panels in an upright position by at least one retractable cam extending from each end panel to each side panel; a handle attached to each end panel, the handle being rotatable to retract the at least one cam from the side panels; a safety lock release mechanism positioned within each handle, the safety lock release mechanism comprising a push button adjacent to at least one spring-loaded retractable pin, wherein at least one pin extends from the handle to the end panel to lock the handle from rotating, and the push button retracts at least one pin from the end panel to free the handle for rotation.

In one embodiment, the device is stackable in the unfolded configuration and in the folded configuration. In one embodiment, the bottom panel, the side panels, the end panels, and combinations thereof comprise one or more perforations, voids, or mesh patterns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities of the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplary safety lock and release handle.

FIG. 2A depicts a cam of an exemplary safety lock and release handle.

FIG. 2B depicts a cross-sectional view of a cam of a safety lock and release handle.

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of a safety lock and release handle.

FIG. 4 depicts a top-down exploded view of a safety lock and release handle.

FIG. 5 depicts a top-down cross-sectional view of a safety lock and release handle.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary foldable storage container device having integrated safety lock and release handles, wherein the container device is in an unfolded configuration.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary foldable storage container device having integrated safety lock and release handles, wherein the container device is in a folded configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to safety lock and release handles for use in foldable containers. The handles are rotatable to unlock container panels from each other for folding. The handles comprise safety lock assemblies to prevent inadvertent rotation and unlocking of the container panels. The present invention also relates to foldable storage container devices that incorporate the safety lock and release handles.

Definitions

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many other elements typically found in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other elements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing the present invention. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications to such elements and methods known to those skilled in the art.

Unless defined elsewhere, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, exemplary methods and materials are described.

As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning associated with it in this section.

The articles “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.

“About” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompass variations of ±20%, ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, and ±0.1% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate.

Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention can be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, 6, and any whole and partial increments there between. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Safety Lock and Release Handle

The present invention provides improved locks for foldable storage container devices. The locks secure a foldable container device in an open position and are releasable to permit the foldable container device to be collapsed into a closed position. The locks are integrated into container handles to provide a natural position for locking and unlocking. The locks include a safety mechanism to prevent unintended unlocking.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary locking handle 100 is described. Handle 100 is comprises a grip 102 that is rotatably attached to a container panel by way of at least one cam 104 positioned within the container panel. The at least one cam 104 comprises an elongate rod-like shape and extends from handle 100, through the container panel, and into a cam slot 106 located within an adjacent container panel. In general operation, rotating handle 100 retracts the at least one cam 104 from cam slot 106, releasing the container panels from each other.

Referring now to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the operation of the at least one cam 104 is described. The at least one cam 104 comprises a post slot 108 and a cut-out space forming angled surface 112. Post slot 108 is sized to receive a post 110 positioned within the container panel. Post 110, when seated within post slot 108, prevents lateral movement in the at least one cam 104 and thereby prevents the at least one cam 104 from retracting out of cam slot 106. Rotating handle 100 simultaneously rotates the at least one cam 104, whereupon post 110 is unseated from post slot 108 and slidably engages angled surface 112 of the at least one cam 104 to actuate the at least one cam 104 in direction 130. Actuation of the at least one cam 104 in direction 130 retracts the at least one cam 104 from cam slot 106 to disengage the container panels from each other. The at least one cam 104 can be returned to its original position by a spring force or by reversing the rotation of handle 100.

Handle 100 further comprises a safety lock assembly to prevent inadvertent rotation and unlocking of adjacent container panels. Referring now to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the safety lock assembly is described. The safety lock assembly comprises button 116 nested within housing 114 and at least one elongate pin 118 having an outer end that extends through handle 100 and into a pin slot 120 located within the container panel that handle 100 is attached to. The extension of the outer end of the at least one pin 118 into pin slot 120 locks rotational movement in handle 100 and thereby prevents the at least one cam 104 from rotating and retracting out of cam slot 106, as described above. Visible in FIG. 5, the at least one pin 118 comprises an inner end having an angled surface 124 and button 116 comprises an interior having an angled interior surface 126, wherein angled surface 124 and angled surface 126 are substantially parallel in alignment. Pressing button 116 in direction 128 into handle 100 slidably engages angled surface 126 against angled surface 124, which actuates the at least one pin 118 in direction 130. Actuation of the at least one pin 118 in direction 130 retracts the outer end of the at least one pin 118 out of pin slot 120 and unlocks rotational movement in handle 100. In some embodiments, handle 100 comprises a spring force provided by a spring 122, a raised tab, or other structure that returns pin 118 and button 116 to their original position once button 116 is released.

Foldable Storage Container Device

The present invention also provides foldable storage container devices incorporating the safety lock and release handles described elsewhere herein. The devices have an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration, wherein the folded configuration occupies a volume that is smaller than the volume of the unfolded configuration, thereby saving space.

Referring now to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, an exemplary foldable storage container device 200 is depicted. Device 200 comprises a bottom panel 202, two opposing side panels 204, and two opposing end panels 206, each of the panels being planar and substantially rectangular in shape. Side panels 204 and end panels 206 are hingedly connected to the edges of bottom panel 202 such that side panels 204 and end panels 206 are configured to be foldable onto bottom panel 202 to place device 200 in a folded configuration. In some embodiments, the hinged connections between end panels 206 and bottom panel 202 are positioned lower than the hinged connections between side panels 204 and bottom panel 202, such that end panels 206 fold flat against bottom panel 202 and side panels 204 fold flat against folded end panels 206, as shown in FIG. 7. However, it should be understood that device 200 encompasses alternate configurations as well, including side panels 204 that fold flat against bottom panel 202 and end panels 206 that fold flat against folded side panels 204. Side panels 204 and end panels are lockable to each other in an upright position to place device 200 in an unfolded configuration. In various embodiments, bottom panel 202, side panels 204, end panels 206, and combinations thereof can include one or more corrugations to increase rigidity. In various embodiments, bottom panel 202, side panels 204, end panels 206, and combinations thereof can include one or more perforations, voids, or mesh patterns to decrease weight and cost of manufacturing.

End panels 206 each comprise a rotatable handle 100 adjacent to a handle opening 210. Side panels 204 each comprise a cam slot 106 at their upper corners that are sized to receive at least one cam 104 of each handle 100. Visible in FIG. 6, side panels 204 further comprise a ramp 208 positioned adjacent to each cam slot 106, wherein the at least one cam 104 is slidable over a ramp 208 to seat within a cam slot 106. Ramp 208 secures each cam 104 within each cam slot 106, thereby locking side panels 204 and end panels 206 together in an unfolded configuration. To return device 200 back to a folded configuration, each handle 100 can be unlocked and rotated as described elsewhere herein, whereupon each cam 104 is retracted out of each cam slot 106 to permit end panels 206 to slide past ramp 208 of side panels 204 and fold towards bottom panel 202.

Device 200 can be described in terms of a length, a width, an unfolded height, and a folded height. The length corresponds to the edge of device 200 shared by bottom panel 202 and side panel 204, the width corresponds to the edge of device 200 shared by bottom panel 202 and end panel 206, the unfolded height corresponds to the edge of device 200 shared by side panel 204 and end panel 206 when device 200 is in an unfolded configuration, and the folded height corresponds to the total thickness of device 200 in a folded configuration. Device 200 can have any desired length, width, unfolded height, and folded height. In various embodiments, device 200 can have a length between about 100 mm to 1000 mm, a width between about 100 mm to 1000 mm, an unfolded height between about 100 mm to 1000 mm, and a folded height between about 10 mm and 100 mm. In one embodiment, device 200 has a length of 600 mm, a width of 400 mm, an unfolded height of 175 mm, and a folded height of 40 mm. In certain embodiments, the length of device 200 is longer than the width of device 200. In certain embodiments, the length of device 200 is the same as the width of device 200. In certain embodiments, the unfolded height of device 200 is equal to half of or less than half of the length of device 200, the width of device 200, or both.

In some embodiments, bottom panel 202 comprises a plurality of raised tabs 212 positioned near the various hinged connections that limit the range of movement in side panels 204 and end panels 206. The plurality of tabs 212 can be dimensioned to prevent side panels 204, end panels 206, or both from unfolding beyond a certain angle relative to bottom panel 202, such as an angle between about 60° and 120° to bottom panel 202.

In some embodiments, the plurality of tabs 212 aid in aligning and securing a stack of folded devices 200. For example, device 200 can comprise a plurality of indents underneath bottom panel 202 (not pictured) that correspond to the positions of the plurality of tabs 212, such that a plurality of tabs 212 of a first folded device 200 are seated within a plurality of indents on the bottom of a second folded device 200 placed on top of the first device 200. Similarly, in some embodiments side panels 204, end panels 206, or both can comprise a plurality of tabs 213 positioned on an upper edge, wherein the plurality of tabs 213 aid in aligning and securing a stack of unfolded devices 200. For example, device 200 can comprise a plurality of indents underneath bottom panel 202 (not pictured) that correspond to the positions of the plurality of tabs 213, such that a plurality of tabs 213 of a first unfolded device 200 are seated within a plurality of indents on the bottom of a second unfolded device 200 placed on top of the first device 200.

In some embodiments, side panels 204, end panels 206, or both can comprise one or more flaps 214 that at least partially extend around a perimeter of bottom panel 202, wherein flaps 214 reversibly lock to bottom panel 202 by a detent to secure device 200 in a folded configuration.

The safety lock and release handles and foldable storage container devices of the present invention can be constructed from any suitable material. In some embodiments, the components of the handles and devices are constructed using a durable, stiff, and lightweight material or combinations thereof, including but not limited to aluminum, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, and the like. The safety lock and release handles and foldable storage container devices of the present invention can be constructed using any suitable method known in the art. The methods may vary depending on the materials used. For example, certain components can substantially comprise a plastic or polymer that may be milled from a large block or injection molded. Likewise, certain components can substantially comprise a metal that may be milled, cast, etched, or deposited by techniques such as chemical vapor deposition, spraying, sputtering, and ion plating. In some embodiments, the handles and devices may be made using 3D printing techniques commonly used in the art.

The disclosures of each and every patent, patent application, and publication cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. While this invention has been disclosed with reference to specific embodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations of this invention may be devised by others skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to be construed to include all such embodiments and equivalent variations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A safety lock and release handle device comprising: a rotatable grip connected to at least one elongate and rod-like cam, wherein rotation of the grip retracts the at least one cam towards the grip; and a safety lock assembly housed within the grip, the safety lock assembly comprising a button connected to at least one elongate pin having a length that extends outside of the grip, wherein pressing the button retracts the length of the at least one pin into the grip; wherein the length of the at least one pin extending outside of the grip locks rotation of the grip, and retracting the length of the at least one pin into the grip unlocks rotation of the grip.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the safety lock assembly comprises a spring connected to the button and the at least one pin.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the connection between the button and the at least one pin is formed by an angled surface on the interior of the button and an angled surface on the at least one pin, wherein each of the angled surfaces are parallel to each other.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is integrated into a panel of a foldable container.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one cam extends through the panel of the foldable container and into an adjacent panel of the foldable container, such that retraction of the at least one cam towards the grip removes the at least one cam from the adjacent panel.
 6. A foldable storage container device comprising: a planar bottom panel having a substantially rectangular shape with four edges; two planar side panels hingedly connected to the bottom panel at a first opposing pair of edges; and two planar end panels hingedly connected to the bottom panel at a second opposing pair of edges; wherein the side panels and end panels are foldable onto the bottom panel in a folded configuration, the side panels and end panels are lockable to each other in an upright unfolded configuration, and each end panel comprises a handle that is rotatable to unlock the end panels from the side panels.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the device is stackable in the unfolded configuration and in the folded configuration.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein the end panels comprise retractable cams connected to the handles, the cams extending into the side panels to lock the side panels and the end panels to each other.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein rotation of the handles retracts the cams from the side panels to unlock the end panels from the side panels.
 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the cams comprise an angled surface, such that rotation of the handles rotates the cams to slidably engage the angled surface to a post positioned within the end panels to retract the cams in a lateral direction away from the side panels.
 11. The device of claim 6, wherein rotation of the handles is locked by retractable pins extending from the handles into the end panels.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the handles comprise push buttons that retract the pins to permit rotation of the handles.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the pins comprise an angled surface and the buttons comprise an angled surface in alignment with the angled surface of the pins, such that pushing the buttons slidably engages the angled surface of the buttons to the angled surface of the pins to retract the pins in a lateral direction away from the end panels.
 14. The device of claim 6, wherein the bottom panel, the side panels, the end panels, and combinations thereof comprise one or more rigid corrugations.
 15. The device of claim 6, wherein the bottom panel, the side panels, the end panels, and combinations thereof comprise one or more perforations, voids, or mesh patterns.
 16. The device of claim 6, wherein the edges shared between the bottom panel and the side panels have a length that is longer, shorter, or the same as a length of the edges shared between the bottom panel and the end panels.
 17. The device of claim 6, wherein the side panels and the end panels each have a height that is equal to half of or less than half of a length of the edges shared between the bottom panel and the side panels, a length of the edges shared between the bottom panel and the end panels, or both.
 18. A foldable storage container device comprising: a planar bottom panel having a first pair of opposing edges hingedly connected to two planar side panels and a second pair of opposing edges hingedly connected to two planar end panels, wherein the end panels are lockable to the side panels in an upright position by at least one retractable cam extending from each end panel to each side panel; a handle attached to each end panel, the handle being rotatable to retract the at least one cam from the side panels; a safety lock release mechanism positioned within each handle, the safety lock release mechanism comprising a push button adjacent to at least one spring-loaded retractable pin, wherein at least one pin extends from the handle to the end panel to lock the handle from rotating, and the push button retracts at least one pin from the end panel to free the handle for rotation.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the device is stackable in the unfolded configuration and in the folded configuration.
 20. The device of claim 18, wherein the bottom panel, the side panels, the end panels, and combinations thereof comprise one or more perforations, voids, or mesh patterns. 